Softball

San Diego Bests Broncos Twice In Doubleheader

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball
team nearly ruined San Diego's chance for a PCSC Championship
birth, fighting the Toreros all the way to the end in today's first
game of a doubleheader but ultimately losing, 6-5, and the second
game, 4-0.

Just one San Diego loss this weekend could possibly knock the
Toreros out of PCSC Championship contention if it is combined with
a Saint Mary's sweep of Cal State Bakersfield.

The Broncos tried their best to play the spoiler and jumped out
to a 2-0 lead in the first inning fueled by sophomore Briana
Knight's two-run single, but San Diego had an answer in the
second inning.

The Toreros scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the
second on one sacrifice fly and two RBI-singles to take the one run
lead.

The game then teetered back in favor of Santa Clara in the
fourth inning after an explosive offensive burst that began with
junior Amanda
Edmonson's lead-off double. Two batters later, senior Niole
Picard smacked a triple. Following Picard, sophomore Catherine
Surane doubled to keep the runs coming. Junior Jackie
Nicora finished off the scoring in the inning with an
RBI-single that scored Surane, one of her four hits on the day in
seven at-bats over the two games.

The Broncos retained the lead for just one inning as San Diego
rallied to tie the game in the fifth inning courtesy of a two-run
homer by Taylor Hensley.

Santa Clara was held scoreless over the next two tries at the
plate and the Toreros won the game in the bottom of the sixth with
an RBI-single.

Freshman Riley
McKay started the game, pitching 1.2 innings and conceding
three runs. Fellow rookie Ali
Nash relieved McKay for the final out of the second inning and
went on to pitch 4.1 innings, striking out two and allowing just
four hits. Nash was charged with the loss, her eighth of the
season.

In the second game, the Broncos were shutout but managed six
hits on San Diego pitcher Kaitlin Healy. Santa Clara pitcher Kaitlyn
Rauschnot also went the distance, her 11th complete game of the
season. Rauschnot struck out one and allowed eight hits in 28
batters faced.

The Broncos stranded six runners on base in the game, including
two in the final inning.

Mickell Escobar drove in the first run for San Diego in the
second inning with a single to left field. Steady production from
the batter's box scored three more runs for the Toreros in the
fifth inning as the scored held up at 4-0 in favor of San Diego at
the game's end. Santa Clara, now 9-34 overall, will complete its
2010 season tomorrow as it faces San Diego in one last
doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon.